TAÏSHA TALKS TRUE NORTH

"Everybody hears something different in it"

TAÏSHA TALKS TRUE NORTH

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

What inspired ‘True North’?

Contrary to the magnetic north on a compass, which actually varies from place to place over time due to local magnetic anomalies, the true north always reliably remains the same, true to itself. Reading about the true north and how finding it is essential for accurate navigation in the outdoors, it made me think how it also resembles a personal internal compass. Your own true north is built by your most deeply felt truths and deeply held values you live by, and knowing your true north means knowing your own inner orienting point, guiding you in an ever-changing, ever-shifting outside world and society. During the last years I started to become more and more aware of what, and who, "my true north" is. So many things happened or didn't happen but what my own true north is made of has always been unchanged, rooted deep inside me. I am especially proud of this song because my sister and I wrote and produced it entirely on our own, following our intuition, creating a landscape of sound that's dreamy and epic but also grounded and forward-looking and determined.

How early did you already feel the magnetic pull toward living life as an artist?

When I think of it I've been a singer my whole life, feeling a strong natural need and a joy to express myself creatively and surrounding myself with art and poetry. But it actually wasn’t until the pandemic started in 2020, when the world was suddenly put to a hold and I found myself in the very luxurious situation of being able to take a break from university and my job. It actually had been my wonderful sister, who is a very talented creative visionary and very close to me, who encouraged me to write and release my own songs, just because, "why not?" There was nothing to lose. And if there's people out there in the world who are moved and encouraged and held by my songs, then this is all I could ever ask for, it becomes something meaningful.

A little while still but this year marks five years since you shared your first single ‘Merci mais non merci’ with us. How do you look back on the time that has been since then?

So, as I mentioned, it was in the first pandemic year that the initial spark for my first single, my first release, was born. That's why 'Merci mais non merci' has a very special place in my heart. There comes great freedom to creating your very first song and releasing it into the world, because nobody has expected your song yet. I had immense light-hearted joy writing and singing 'Merci mais non merci', choosing French, my mother's mother tongue, as the language to express myself. Looking back to the start, I can proudly say that I grew so much as an independent artist since then and acquiring new skills like how I am now producing my songs on my own, and just being bold and curious of what is possible.

Beyond the melodies and lyrics, what’s the deeper layer you’re sharing when people hear your music?

What I love about music and songs and songwriting is that everybody hears something different in it, is moved by something different and takes something different out of it. Your own voice, which is in my case also my instrument, is something deeply personal and intimate, so sharing your “voice“ also in terms of ideas and feelings and opinions always has a vulnerable note to it. And then again, I believe that this vulnerability is the very thing that makes it possible to build an authentic connection from human to human, and to me there lies great beauty in doing that.

Does songwriting help guide you through life?

Definitely. It is a bit like a mirror. I definitely write songs and lyrics that I need and want to hear, in my eyes art has so much power to shape ideas and energy so I am very careful what kind of messages I want to bring out into the world. Especially with songs that easily get stuck in your head, if the message is negative or belittling, it will definitely show. I believe in the power of thoughts as well, especially those which you repeat or constantly tell yourself. So to fully answer you question, yes, my songs actually are like glimpses of happiness and reminders to myself, by myself, and for everyone who might love to listen to them of course. I think it makes me more aware of my own inner world, my experiences, and how I am going through the world. I am more mindful of it because my songwriting reflects it. So it is also a tool of getting to know myself even better and also a challenge to never "put myself in a box" by trying out different genres of music.

What music always has a way of lifting your spirits, like your songs now do for others?

Oh, that’s a great and a tough question. There are so many incredible works of art, and naturally my favourites change from time to time, depending on my mood or where I’m at in life in that moment of time. But if I have to name something now, I would say listening to NTS Radio hosted by the incredible singer and artist Olivia Dean always puts me into a great, happy, light mood. She just has excellent taste in music and I enjoy her hosting the NTS Breakfast Show immensely, which mostly covers soul-jazz, reggae, hip-hop, Música Popular Brasileira and RnB.

Creative life, like life itself, naturally comes with ups and downs. Has following your inner compass always been easy, or has it been a learning process to trust yourself, believe in your path, and not drift off your own unique course?

As with everything in life, like you said like life itself, everything is a learning and a growing process all the time. Since I am an independent artist who more or less just started dipping their toes into this industry, there were many "aha" moments along the way, and I cherish greatly each and every artist and music technician who shared their knowledge and experiences with me in the past years. Often times it’s incredibly overwhelming to wear so many hats at the same time especially since I want and try to create and present myself only in an authentic way. Social media is always only a tiny percentage of a person’s whole life and always a sort of selected presentation of yourself. In our age the competition of anything that you do is so grand because we are all so connected from all over the world, but then again this should never prevent yourself from doing your own thing, and following your own path. I truly believe that comparison is the thief of joy and utterly useless, of course easier said than done, and I like to simply admire others and be inspired by them. The world is big and there is enough, artistic, space for each and everyone.

Where is your compass pointing?

Hah! Great question. I think I just let you find out by yourself! But, I can definitely say that my true north is leaning towards more songs, creative collaborations with other artists and live shows.

We are now a couple of singles past your “Side A” EP last year. Are you maybe on your way to a "Side B" as well?

Oh yes! I will release another song in early summer, which will complete Side B of my debut-EP alongside the already released 'Home Team' and 'True North'. I think this song will come a bit as a, very nice, surprise, and I just can’t wait for everyone to hear it! I love playing with new styles and genres, and also, this song has been dedicated to a very special person in my life story.